Weiner resigns after sexting scandal

Washington (CNN) -- Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner heeded calls from across the political spectrum by resigning from office Thursday, saying the sexting scandal he first lied about and then admitted caused such a distraction that it was impossible for him to continue his work in Congress.

In a brief statement to reporters interrupted repeatedly by a heckler, the New York congressman apologized "for the personal mistakes I have made and for the embarrassment I have caused" to his neighbors, to his constituents and "particularly to my wife."

"Unfortunately, the distraction that I have created" made it "impossible" to continue working in Congress, Weiner said.

Key dates in Weiner scandal

He was greeted by some cheers when he entered the room at a community center in his home district to make the announcement. One onlooker, however, heckled Weiner by shouting "pervert" and later yelled insulting questions as Weiner spoke. The heckler turned out to be a writer for shock jock Howard Stern who goes by the name Benjy Bronk, and he offered little explanation for why he taunted the congressman.

Weiner, 46, was considered a possible front-runner to succeed New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2013 until the revelation in late May of his online communications, including lewd photos of himself he sent to women he befriended on Facebook and Twitter.

After initially claiming that the first picture to be made public resulted from his account being hacked, Weiner eventually admitted that he sent the picture and had engaged in several inappropriate online relationships with women he contacted through social networking sites.

House colleagues wished Weiner well Thursday while acknowledging his failures.

"Congressman Weiner exercised poor judgment in his actions and poor judgment in his reaction to the revelations," said a statement by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, who had pushed Weiner to step down. "Today, he made the right judgment in resigning."

See photos at TMZ

Weiner's political mentor, Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, called it a sad day, adding that Weiner "was an effective and passionate advocate for the people he represented in Brooklyn and Queens" who "served his community, city, and country well for over two decades."

Others noted that the scandal surrounding Weiner had become a distraction.

Democratic Rep. Steve Israel, D-New York, issued a statement saying that Weiner's decision to resign "is right for him and his family, our party, and our country because we have serious work to do in Congress."

Is Weiner doing the right thing?

"Last week Republican leaders introduced a bill to privatize Social Security, and the American people deserve an undistracted debate on it, Medicare, jobs, and other important issues," Israel's statement said, reflecting the desire of Democrats to refocus the national debate after more than two weeks.

Republican Rep. Peter King, who once engaged in a shouting match with Weiner on the House floor, said Weiner had to resign because he would have been rendered ineffective in Congress.

King called Weiner "talented" and said, "I always felt he was so ambitious, so driven to succeed, that apart from morality or anything else, that he would never leave himself so exposed, as he's done, so literally."

Party bosses battle over Weiner scandal

To fill Weiner's seat, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will call a special election on a date to be determined. A brief statement from Cuomo's office said Thursday that the governor " will take the appropriate steps to ensure New Yorkers in the 9th district are fairly represented in Congress."

Dave Arnold, Weiner's communications director, said the congressman's staff would remain employed until the day of the special election.

A similar special election took place in New York last month after the resignation in February of Republican Rep. Chris Lee over a Craigslist solicitation that included his shirtless photo.

Top leaders from both parties, including President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, had said or suggested that Weiner should step down over the controversy, which has been a major story since the news emerged in late May.

Weiner to seek treatment amid growing pressure to resign

Weiner announced that he was seeking treatment and requested a two-week leave from Congress that was granted without objection. However, Weiner resisted the calls to resign, bolstered by polling that showed a majority of residents in his district wanted him to stay on.

With more revelations of the sexually tinged online communications emerging and the story continuing to dominate headlines, Weiner changed his mind this week after his wife, Huma Abedin, returned from an overseas trip with Clinton.

Weiner's wife returns as pressure mounts for his resignation

Weiner called Israel on Wednesday to tell him he was going to resign, said a source familiar with that conversation. Israel, who was at a White House picnic for members of Congress, then got Weiner on the phone with Pelosi, the source said.

Israel and Pelosi went near a tree on the White House grounds to talk to Weiner in private, according to the source. Weiner told them that he was resigning and was very remorseful about what he did to his family and his colleagues, especially for causing such a distraction, the source added.

Weiner also told Israel and Pelosi that he had talked to his wife, who is pregnant with the couple's first child.

Weiner decision revealed at White House picnic

Pelosi said earlier Thursday that Democratic leaders "respectfully gave him time and his wife came home for them to talk."

Back in Weiner's home district, supporters praised the congressman for working on their behalf but criticized his behavior, while opponents said good riddance.

"We really appreciate what he's done for us," said Ruth Rootenberg, a 30-year resident. "What he did on a personal level isn't something we approve of."

As for Weiner's future, Rootenberg said, he "had a very good chance at being mayor, but at this point I'm not so sure."

"His constituents are behind him," she said, adding: "There's always a chance."

Weiner might have been next New York mayor

However, Ruben Noyman said that he never voted for Weiner and that the congressman's resignation is the "smart thing to do."

"He's a disgrace," Noyman said.

Democratic Rep. Ed Towns of New York said he hoped Weiner could "bounce back and run for something else, and knowing him, he probably will," while Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-New Jersey, said Weiner probably could have survived the scandal if he had come clean right away instead of lying about it.

From all indications, the story wasn't going away. On Wednesday, a former adult film actress currently working as a stripper said she exchanged e-mails and Twitter messages with Weiner for more than two months. The woman, whose lawyer identified her as Ginger Lee, said in New York that Weiner asked her to lie about it after the scandal broke.

Wired: How early Twitter decisions led to Weiner's downfall

Lee said that although she initially admired Weiner for his liberal views on Planned Parenthood and health care, her view of the congressman has changed.

"I think that Anthony Weiner should resign because he lied to the public and the press for more than a week," Lee said. "If he lied about this, I can't have much faith in him about anything else."

Her lawyer, Gloria Allred, read some of the scores of e-mails that she said Weiner sent to Lee.

"I have wardrobe demands too," said one, according to Allred. "I need to highlight my package."

Lee said she never reciprocated when Weiner made suggestive comments. Allred said Lee, who is single, never met Weiner and never received any photographs from him.

Where does Weiner go from here?

First elected to the House in 1998 after Schumer decided to run for the Senate, Weiner has been a reliable liberal voice for the solidly Democratic 9th District, encompassing parts of Brooklyn and Queens.

Weiner basically ran unopposed in 2006 and 2008 and won by 22 points over his Republican opponent in 2010, easily avoiding the GOP tidal wave that swept over the House.

As a politician, Weiner fully embraced social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, using the platforms to unleash his comedic take on life and politics.

He graduated from the State University of New York Plattsburgh and worked as an aide to Schumer from 1985 to 1991. A year later, he served on the New York City Council.

He ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic mayoral primary race in 2005. Most observers now feel the scandal has ruined any chance of his being elected mayor in 2013.

CNN's Tom Cohen, Meghan Rafferty and Raelyn Johnson contributed to this report.

CNN

Party bosses battle over Weiner scandal

TMZ reports this photo of Rep. Anthony Weiner was taken in the House members' gym.NEW: Anthony Weiner's office declines to comment on the photos published by TMZ TMZ publishes pictures Weiner apparently took of himself in the House gym Republican Party chief accuses Pelosi of having wanted to save Weiner's jobWasserman Schultz accuses Republican leader of a "double standard"

(CNN) -- The heads of both major political parties battled Sunday over the handling of Rep. Anthony Weiner's scandal, with the Republican Party boss accusing Democrats of inaction and the Democratic Party leader accusing Republicans of a "double standard."

In a heated debate on NBC's "Meet the Press," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said that "for the first 10 days" of the scandal, "the only job (House Minority Leader) Nancy Pelosi was interested in saving was Anthony Weiner's." Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz fired back that Priebus' argument failed "the straight-face test."

The debate came the same day that TMZ published photos of Weiner, in various states of undress, which he apparently took of himself in a locker room. TMZ reported that they were taken in the House members' gym and sent to at least one woman. Weiner's office declined to comment on the photos, and CNN could not confirm the details reported by TMZ.

See photos at TMZ.com

After apologizing last week, Weiner said he had exchanged "messages and photos of explicit nature with about six women in the last three years," communicating with them online and, occasionally, on the phone.

Wasserman Schultz issued a statement Saturday calling for Weiner's resignation. Pelosi also called for him to step down Saturday.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said Sunday that Weiner should consider resigning. "I think that certainly he has to consider that option," Hoyer said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "I don't see how he can proceed and effectively represent his constituency."

In the interview on "Meet the Press," Wasserman Schultz was asked why she called for Weiner's resignation at this point in the so-called "sexting" scandal. She said Democrats had been giving Weiner "some breathing room to be able to be circumspect, do the right thing, make a decision, reach the conclusion that he needed to step back, and step down on his own." When he had not done so by Saturday, "it was important to weigh in," she said.

Priebus said "it's a question of leadership." Weiner "turned this town and this country into a three-ring circus," Priebus said.

"We've got leadership and a Democratic Party that are defending a guy that deserves no defense."

Wasserman Schultz said Priebus' argument "doesn't pass the straight-face test from a chair of a party none of whose leaders called for Senator Vitter, who actually broke the law, to resign, who is still serving (in) office." Sen. David Vitter, R-Louisiana, admitted in 2007 to "a very serious sin" after he was linked to a prostitution scandal.

Wasserman Schultz also cited former Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, who had an extramarital affair with a staffer's wife and later resigned. "You never called for his resignation, so it's a double standard and it's unacceptable," she said.

When asked about those situations, Priebus responded he was "not defending these guys," and turned the discussion to the economy and President Barack Obama's policies.

Wasserman Schultz said she spoke briefly with Weiner. She described him as "incredibly apologetic" and "devastated" about the conduct he has been engaged in.

Weiner's spokeswoman said Saturday that the congressman is seeking treatment "to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person." He will take a "short leave of absence," Risa Heller said in a statement.

Wasserman Schultz said a leave of absence is not enough. A party cannot force a lawmaker to leave, however. "A member of Congress makes his own decision, and that's certainly going to be up to Anthony Weiner, but we have made it clear that he needs to resign," she said.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Weiner said he has "made some serious mistakes and I'm trying to redeem myself," adding that his "remarkable" wife -- Huma Abedin, a senior aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- is doing well.

A Democratic source familiar with conversations among Weiner and Democratic leadership said the congressman does not want to make a decision on his future in Congress until Abedin returns from a trip with Clinton in Africa. She is scheduled to return Thursday.

Meanwhile, authorities in Delaware have closed an investigation into contact between Weiner and a teenager in the state.

C.R. McLeod, spokesman for the New Castle County government, told CNN on Sunday that the police concluded their investigation Friday "and at this point they won't have anything else to pursue unless further evidence comes to their attention."

In a statement Friday, New Castle County Police said detectives had "conducted an interview with the teen and she has made no disclosure of criminal activity nor inappropriate contact by the congressman."

Weiner told reporters the contact involved "nothing explicit, nothing indecent. Absolutely nothing inappropriate."

An attorney representing the teen's family said in a statement Sunday that the 17-year-old had Twitter contact with Weiner, and that the tweets "were not salacious or in any manner inappropriate." No photographs were ever sent to her, the statement said.

CNN

FIFA election to go on despite scandal

Joseph S. Blatter, President of FIFA talks during the 61st FIFA Congress Opening Ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 31NEW: German football chief says the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar should be re-examinedFIFA president Sepp Blatter is the only candidate running in the electionSoccer associations urge the world football governing body to delay the vote FIFA chooses who hosts the World Cup every four years

(CNN) -- The election for the president of FIFA will go on as scheduled Wednesday despite calls from powerful football associations for a delay over a corruption scandal.

Incumbent FIFA President Sepp Blatter is the only one running to head the world football governing body.

Blatter said Monday night that the organization was not in crisis after two top officials were suspended amid ethics concerns.

One of the officials, Mohamed Bin Hammam, was the only contender against Blatter for the presidency.

Football associations urged FIFA on Tuesday to delay the vote.

"This has been a very damaging time for the reputation of FIFA and therefore the whole of football," said David Bernstein, chairman of the English Football Association

The Scottish Football Association echoed the call.

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"The events of the last two days, in particular, have made any election unworkable," SFA head Stewart Reagan said in a statement.

Sponsors of international soccer including Visa, Coca-Cola and Adidas have warned that the ethics scandal is hurting the sport.

"The current situation is clearly not good for the game," a Visa spokesman told CNN Tuesday, echoing comments from other companies that pay to have their logos at the World Cup and other major soccer events. The Visa spokesman declined to be named.

"The negative tenor of the public debate around FIFA at the moment is neither good for football nor for FIFA," Adidas chief communications officer Jan Runau said.

Sponsor Emirates airlines said it was "disappointed" by the "issues around the administration" of FIFA, and Coca-Cola said Monday that the ethics allegations were "distressing and bad for the sport."

The concerns came as Blatter shrugged off corruption allegations within FIFA and said he would press ahead with his bid to be re-elected as president for the fourth time.

The FIFA ethics committee on Sunday suspended Bin Hammam of Qatar, along with fellow leading official Jack Warner.

Bin Hammam was a major influence in Qatar's surprising victory in winning the right to host the 2022 World Cup finals.

He and Warner have been accused of offering cash gifts to national associations in return for pro-Bin Hammam votes in the presidential election.

Warner and Bin Hammam both deny wrongdoing.

FIFA is the body that decides where soccer's quadrennial World Cup will be held, among other responsibilities.

The head of the German Football Federation said the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar should be re-examined in the wake of the scandal.

"Especially regarding the awarding of the World Cup 2022 to Qatar, there has been repeated speculation and corruption allegations," Theo Zwanziger said in an interview posted on the league's website Wednesday.

"Even the FIFA secretary general had critical views of the financial possibilities of Qatar, which he noted in an e-mail, even though that may have been phrased in a very casual way. That is why I believe that the awarding of this World Cup should be re-examined."

CNN's David Wilkinson, Ben Wyatt, James Montague, Frederik Pleitgen and Aaron Akin c ontributed to this report.

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Sponsors: FIFA scandal hurting soccer

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been widely criticized for failing to address questions about corruption at a press conference.NEW: Sponsors of international football express concern about a top-level ethics scandalFIFA president Sepp Blatter insists there is no crisis in world football's governing bodyThe FA says the election should be delayed after Blatter's only challenger is suspendedFIFA chooses who hosts the World Cup every four years

(CNN) -- Sponsors of international soccer including Visa, Coca-Cola and Adidas have warned that an ethics scandal at the highest levels of the sport is hurting the sport and needs to be fixed.

"The current situation is clearly not good for the game," a Visa spokesman told CNN Tuesday, echoing comments from other companies that pay to have their logos at the World Cup and other major soccer events. The Visa spokesman declined to be named.

"The negative tenor of the public debate around FIFA at the moment is neither good for football nor for FIFA," Adidas chief communications officer Jan Runau told CNN Tuesday.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter held an extraordinary press conference amid the scandal Monday night, insisting the organization was not in crisis after two top officials were suspended amid ethics concerns.

Never mind Saint Sepp, the system is to blame

One of the officials, Mohamed Bin Hammam, was the only person running against Blatter for the presidency in an election scheduled for Wednesday. FIFA says the vote will go ahead on schedule, with Blatter as the only candidate.

The powerful English Football Association called on FIFA Tuesday to delay the vote.

"This has been a very damaging time for the reputation of FIFA and therefore the whole of football," FA president David Bernstein said.

The Scottish Football Association echoed the call.

"The events of the last two days, in particular, have made any election unworkable," SFA head Stewart Reagan said in a statement.

Sponsor Emirates airlines said it was "disappointed" by the "issues around the administration" of FIFA, and Coca-Cola said Monday that the ethics allegations were "distressing and bad for the sport."

The concerns come as Blatter shrugged off allegations of corruption within FIFA Monday and said he would press ahead with his bid to be re-elected as president for the fourth time.

Bin Hammam of Qatar was suspended by the FIFA ethics committee Sunday, along with fellow leading official Jack Warner.

"We are not in a crisis, we are only in some difficulties and these can be solved inside our family," Blatter told a press conference Monday where he was continually pressed on both his own position and wider allegations of wrongdoing within FIFA.

"FIFA is strong enough to deal with our own problems," he asserted when asked if he had considered postponing Wednesday's vote by the 208-member FIFA Congress.

FIFA is the body that decides where soccer's quadrennial World Cup will be held, among other responsibilities.

Blatter ruled out a new vote on the venue for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a suggestion that it had won unfairly.

"There is no issue for the World Cup in 2022," the 75-year-old Swiss said.

"I believe that the decision taken for the World Cup in 2022 was done exactly in the same pattern and in the same way as the 2018 tournament."

Bin Hamman, who led the Qatar bid, said earlier Monday that he would appeal his suspension.

"I am punished before I am found guilty," Bin Hammam said in a statement, saying he would "not accept" the decision.

Blatter, who was cleared by the ethics committee, did admit that the whole affair had affected FIFA's reputation.

"What has happened in the last few days and week -- it has done great damage to the image of FIFA," he said.

The press conference was conducted in an acrimonious atmosphere as frustrated journalists shouted out questions.

"We're not in a bazaar here, we are in an important congress," retorted Blatter at one point.

It rounded off an extraordinary day of accusation and counter accusation, with CONCACAF chief Warner the focal point.

"At the end of the day, Blatter has to be stopped," Warner, whose organization covers North and Central America and the Caribbean, told gathered reporters, clearly angered by his expulsion from FIFA's executive committee.

Warner also released an e-mail to reporters which implied that FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke believed there was corruption involved in Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

"He thought he could buy FIFA as they bought the World Cup," Warner claims Valcke said of Bin Hammam in the e-mail.

Qatar's football association Monday "categorically denied any wrongdoing" in connection with its bid, and said it was consulting lawyers and "urgently seeking clarification from FIFA" about the alleged Valcke comments.

Valcke, who is not accused of ethics violations and is not under any investigation, admitted sending the email, but said his comments had been taken out of context.

Warner and Bin Hammam both deny wrongdoing.

CNN's David Wilkinson, Ben Wyatt, James Montague and Aaron Akin contributed to this report.

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Fan Bing Bing Scandal

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Besides the obvious suspects like Edison Chen, Gillian Ching and Cecilia Chung, Chinese actresses Fan Bing Bing, Tang Wei, Vicky Zhao and Alyssa Chia are apparently also persona non grata.

It is well known that Tang Wei stepped on the toes of Chinese authorities with her politically controversial and sexually explicit role as the lover of a traitor in Lee Ang’s “Lust, Caution”. Her appearance at the Hong Kong Film Awards was even edited from the Chinese broadcast of the event.

Fan Bing Bing, another up and coming Chinese actress, has also been censured for explicit scenes in a 2007 film Lost in Beijing, in which she stars with Hong Kong actor Tony Leong Kar Wai. The movie went through five rounds of editing before it was allowed to be screened in China.

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